The US vetoed yesterday an Egypt-sponsored UN Security Council resolution condemning the US’ unilateral move to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Reuters reports. The remaining 14 members of the council voted in favor of the motion, which also called on other countries to refrain from moving their embassies in Israel to Jerusalem. US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley justified the US’ use of its veto power for the first time in six years in the council as being “in defense of American sovereignty and in defense of America’s role in the Middle East peace process.” Arab states will convene soon to assess the situation and decide on further steps to defend Jerusalem, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement following the council vote. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki also said that Palestine will call for an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly, whose outcomes are non-binding “but carry political weight,” the newswire notes.

Tags: